Improvement in cartridge-retractors for breech-loading fire-arms



Z Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. MAYNARD.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented July 25, 186.5.

WihmSses 2 sheets -sheet 2.

E. MAYNARD.

' Breeohrhnading Fire-Arm.

Patented July 25, 1865.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD MAYNARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGE-RETRACTORS FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,966, dated July 25, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MAYNARD, of Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful improvement in my breech-loading tire-arm patented on the 6th day of December, 1859; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said improvement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in whichv Figure l is a side elevation of my improved rifle with the barrel elevated from the breech for the insertion or withdrawal of a cartridge. Fig. 2 is a central and vertical longitudinal section through the piece when in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a similar section through the piece when the cartridge is inserted and the barrel closed so as to be in a position for firin g, and Fig. 4. a detached view of the retractor.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the addition of a retractor to my improved breechloading rifle patented December 6,1859,- so that the cartridge shall be started and partially withdrawn from the barrel by the movement of the actuating-lever which elevates its rear end. This retractor B, Fig. 4, is a narrow strip of metal inserted in a slot cut on the under side of the barrel A, between the ears 0 e, directly over the link (J, and so held therein by means of a pin 6, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, as that it is free to slide backward and forward within the slot. Its front end is fitted with an upward wedge-shaped projection, beveled off at an acute angle, as seen in the drawings, so that it will catch under the projecting flange of the cartridge H inserted in the barrel. When the retractor is pushed back in the barrel this projection or tooth is received within the slot, leaving its front edge flush with the rear end of the barrel, so as not to interfere with its closing down into or against the breech K. The rear end of this sliding retractor B is slightly bent, and bears against its seat with sufficient elasticity to prevent its loose play.

Upon the upper end of the curved link G which, jointed between the cars 0 c by the pin 70, connects the barrel A with the actuatinglever D-is formed an otfset,s. W hen the link is thrown backward by the forward movement of the lever D, so as to force up the rear end of the barrel A, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, this offset 8 will so swing around about the center at k as to strike against the under side of the retractor B, and, engaging with a slot,f, Fig. 4, therein, will slide it forward more or less in proportion to the length of the radius from the pin 70 to the extremity of said oli'set s. As the retractor B is thus made to slide forward, its tooth, pressing against the flange of the cartrid ge H,will push it out from the barrel A sufliciently to permit it to be readily shaken out or caught and withdrawn with the fingers. When the lever l) is thrown back to close the breech the reverse movement of the curved link 0 will draw back the retractor B and leave it disengaged, as seen in Fig. 3.

Having thus fully described my improve ment, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination ofaretracting-slide, B, ith, the barrel A and curved link 0 ofmy improved breech-loading tire-arm, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

EDWARD MAYNARD.

In presence of-- FEEDK. B. HOFFMAN, DAVID A. BURR. 

